After being away from comics so long it’s time to get back to work. So Before going to your local comic shop for the newest issues, catch up on last weeks releases here.
Batgirl #30
Old Enemies
One month has passed since Batgirl #29 and the surgery to fix her back. The issue starts with her getting back into the swing of things as Batgirl (literally). After feeling comfortable wearing the suit she tries to break up a fight at the Gotham mayoral rally. After a small explosion, she chases down one of the people responsible for it and is confronted by Jason Bard, who she dropped off a roof in an early arc. He sprays her in the face and gets away.
The next morning, Babs and Jim get into a little spat and Babs walks out. She goes and volunteers for Alejo’s campaign against her father’s will. Once in the Alejo’s office, she is again confronted by Jason Bard as he is working for Alejo as well. Jason tells Alejo that he knows Cormorant has her in his crosshairs, and we are left with a panel showing as much.
First off, the variant cover of this issue is once again on point. I am loving the variant covers to this Batgirl run. I enjoyed seeing Babs go toe-to-toe with Jim and showing she has become her own woman. I am, however, hoping that after this story completes, Batgirl goes back to Burnside though.
TITANS #32
Last Rites
We learn that the cult plans to unite all the worlds by the “Red” thus causing all beings to worship them essentially making them (the cult) gods. To do so though they need the TITANS to reopen a path to Unearth as it is not part of the Multiverse and can be used as an altar to start the “Red” to flow. To get the TITANS to reopen the path, they speak through Gar to lure them to do so.
Were the above two sentences confusing? Well, if not you are better off than me. This whole issue was confusing. The Cult talked through Gar, filled the reader in on their plans, and the end. This issue simply felt like filler. Maybe more information to un-confuse me will be given in the next issue.
Detective Comics #995
Ring Them Bells
Batman rushes Leslie Thompkins to the batcave as she has been poisoned by the Joker venom. Alfred rushes to get her the antidote, but it doesn’t take and Dr. Thompkins dies on the table. Bruce asks Alfred to give him a minute and Alfred heads back up to Wayne Manor to make some tea. While making the tea the doorbell rings and Alfred goes to answer it. The manor confirms by voice recognition that the guest is Commission Gorden. As Alfred is opening the door, a masked man pulls out a rapier and stabs Alfred in the left lung.
Alfre lays bleeding ringing a bell to which Bruce races up to help his loyal butler. Bruce finds Alfred on the floor and rushes to get him help from Damian to fix the lung. We get a cut to Batman at Arkham telling the inmates he is there for information and pretty much threatens them.
This issue is by far the best Detective Comics issue in a while. With issue 1000 coming up, they look to be gearing up towards a great reveal. It was a shock to see that Leslie Thompkins wasn’t saved by the Batman and then Alfred almost dying by a mysterious man. Really digging this story arc and hope it doesn’t lead to a letdown.
Man Without Fear #1
The story opens with Matt Murdoch in a coma. Foggy is looking over him and talking to him, hoping his voice will help wake him. While in the coma, we get to see inside Matt’s head and he living a hell where all his friends die because he couldn’t save them. A skull/devil looking being, Fear?, tries to rid Matt of DareDevil and tells him he will keep Matt sleeping deep down to keep him safe. Matt realizes that he is a Man Without Fear and uses pain to keep going. At the end of the issue we see Matt grunt and move a finger.
It’s been a while since looking back on DareDevil. Since this was a #1 issue and is a weekly run (for 5 weeks) I figured there was no harm in checking it out as it is a low investment. The story is good though. The characters feel like they were ripped right from the Netflix series. With Foggy looking over Matt, giving some crap lawyer humor and showing sincere worry and care for his friend. Matt (inside his head) is fighting against fear and using his pain to push forward, which reminded me a lot of the series.
Winter Soldier #2
We pick up right where the last issue left off. Bucky is being attacked by a kid. We see the kids past in a flashback sense, he was trained by hydra and literally killed to be able to eat. The kid, who we learn is named RJ, is out to kill Bucky for Hydra (obviously). After a quick spat, Bucky bests the kid and ties him up to his motorcycle. When the kid awakes, Barnes tries to interrogate RJ and try to find out why he is after him. RJ refuses to open up about his mission, and instead activates a homing beacon in his tooth. A hydra agent shows up and shoots the kid, telling him he failed the mission. Again, Bucky springs into action and fends off the Hydra agent and contacts Tony to help get RJ some help.
This issue was way better than the last one. It felt shorter, but was more action packed and the dialog was a lot better. As for story, it seems it is setting up for Bucky to get a new side kick. What’s this lads code name going to be? The Spring Time Trooper?
